4 national parks to spot incredible wildlife this fall and how to stay safe
Whether you are in a vehicle or on foot, the National Park Service cautions that you should stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from other large animals.
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THE TAKEAWAY
- 4 national parks to visit for safe wildlife viewing.
- By following NPS rules and safety guidelines, you and your family can experience unique wildlife in its natural habitat.
- No matter the size of the animal, you must always keep a respectful distance in accordance with NPS rules.
America’s 63 national parks offer a wealth of natural beauty to enjoy in the fall, along with the chance to observe wildlife as safely as possible.
Some national parks are best to visit in specific seasons, so we are breaking down some of the best places to visit and observe wildlife this fall.
Whether you are in a vehicle or on foot, the National Park Service cautions that you should stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from other large animals.
North Cascades National Park
Located just three hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park offers abundant natural beauty, including glaciated peaks, cascading creeks, and deep forest valleys to explore.
It is also home to a variety of wildlife, as long as visitors take safety precautions.
The North Cascades ecosystem is home to wildlife such as black bears, cougars, wolves and mountain goats, which generally fear and avoid people.
Mountain goats in North Cascades National Park in Washington State. (Prisma Bildagentur/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
Still, that behavior could change over time as human interactions continue, prompting officials to encourage taking safety precautions.
The safest way to observe these animals is from a distance, giving bears and wolves at least 100 yards of space and at least 25 yards from other large animals such as elk, mountain goats, deer, moose, and coyotes, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This national park sits on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, offering the chance to observe a diversity of animal and plant life.
The dense Smoky Mountain forest can make wildlife viewing difficult, but the key is patience.
According to the NPS, the best spots to view wildlife are the Cataloochee area for elk, Cades Cove for white-tailed deer, turkeys, and other birds, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, where black bears are often seen.
CHEROKEE, NC - OCTOBER 22: A herd of reintroduced Manitoba elk graze in a meadow at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on October 22, 2016 near Cherokee, North Carolina. Visited by more than 9 million people each year, the Great Smoky Mountains are a range rising along the Tennessee/North Carolina border in the southeastern United States, and are part of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains. (George Rose / Getty Images)
Officials warn to stay at least 50 yards away from bears and 25 yards from elk in the park.
If an animal approaches you, back away and maintain a safe distance.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a terrific place to enjoy the outdoors and explore the many trails in the fall, with cool temperatures.
Wildlife is active in the fall as it prepares for winter; deer are in mating season, and male elk and moose are actively searching for females.
No matter the size of the animal, you must always keep a respectful distance in accordance with NPS rules and avoid being the reason for an animal's harm or death.
Feeding animals increases their dependence on unnatural food sources. Do not let animals bite you; they may carry diseases such as rabies.
MOOSE, USA - SEPT. 9: A calf and cow moose walk along the Sawmill Ponds in Grand Teton National Park near Moose, Wyo. on Sept. 9, 2024. (Amber Baesler for The Washington Post / Getty Images)
Park officials note six specific areas that are best for viewing wildlife:
- Oxbow Bend - Slow-moving water provides habitat for fish such as suckers and trout, which become food for river otters, ospreys, bald eagles, American white pelicans, and common mergansers. Look for swimming beavers and muskrats.
- Timbered Island — A forested ridge southeast of Jenny Lake. Small bands of pronghorn antelope, the fastest land animal in North America, forage on nearby sagebrush throughout the day. Elk leave the shade of Timbered Island at dawn and dusk to eat the grasses growing among the surrounding sagebrush.
- Mormon Row — Bison and pronghorn can be seen grazing in spring, summer and fall. Also watch for coyotes, Northern harriers and American kestrels hunting mice, Uinta ground squirrels, and grasshoppers. Sage grouse, sage thrashers and sparrows also frequent the area.
- Snake River — Elk and bison graze the grassy meadows along the river. Bison also eat grasses in the sagebrush flats on the benches above the river. Bald eagles, ospreys and great blue herons build large stick nests within sight of the river.
- Cascade Canyon — Look for, but do not feed, golden-mantled ground squirrels at Inspiration Point. Pikas and yellow-bellied marmots live in scattered boulder fields. Mule deer and moose browse on shrubs growing at the mouth of the canyon. Listen for the numerous songbirds that nest in the canyon. Habituated animals such as ground squirrels often beg for food.
- Blacktail Pond — Old beaver ponds have filled with sediment and now support grassy meadows where elk graze during the cooler parts of the day. Several kinds of ducks feed in the Snake River's side channels.
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Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is home to 244,000 acres of land where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets roam free.
Animals both big and small can be found throughout the park, and bison are best seen from Sage Creek Rim Road, which overlooks where they live.
Often, the best area to view bighorn sheep is the rocky landscape of Pinnacles Overlook and the Cedar Pass area, including Castle Trail and Big Badlands Overlook.
North America, USA, South Dakota, Badlands National Park, Bighorn Sheep. (Bernard Friel/Education Images/Universal Images Group / Getty Images)
Prairie dog towns exist throughout the park and can be seen from the road at Burns Bain Overlook, Roberts Prairie Dog Town and Sage Creek Campground.
These are just a few of the national park officials suggest for an ideal wildlife-viewing experience, while still following rules and safety regulations.
By following NPS rules and safety guidelines, you and your family can experience unique wildlife in its natural habitat.